1 - 7 February | Financial Inclusion Weekly News

AFRICA

• Morocco - Moroccan fintech startup WafR secures 15 million MAD to enhance financial inclusion through digital payment solutions. L’Economiste.
• Tunisia - Tunisia's financial inclusion rate remains below 40%, highlighting the need for broader adoption of digital banking solutions. Univers News.
• Egypt - Financial inclusion is expanding in Egypt through digital transformation and policy reforms aimed at increasing banking access. Ahram.
• Senegal - Senegal’s fintech sector is expanding, driven by mobile money, regulatory support, and increased digital financial adoption. The Fintech Times.
• Ghana – Bank of Ghana reports a record GH￠3.0192 trillion in mobile money transactions for 2024, reflecting a 57.90% year-on-year growth and underscoring the deepening of financial inclusion through mobile platforms. The B&FT
• Nigeria - Leadway advances financial inclusion by offering accessible wealth management and insurance solutions. BusinessDay.
• South Sudan - South Sudan is set to launch its first instant payment system, aiming to boost financial inclusion and modernize the country's payment infrastructure. Premium Times.
• Kenya – The need for fintech companies to play a responsible role in ensuring that their innovations have a positive social impact. Citizen Digital
• Mozambique - A project aims to develop an inclusive green finance roadmap for BCI - Banco Comercial e de Investimentos (Mo?ambique/Mozambique) to support sustainable financial growth. ReliefWeb.
• Madagascar - Digital transformation initiatives will empower 22,000 Malagasy women entrepreneurs by improving access to financial services. NewsMada.
• South Africa - A report highlights that 37.3 million adults in South Africa have bank accounts, reflecting significant financial inclusion progress. IOL.

Regional

• Network International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GIM UEMOA to enhance financial inclusion across the eight member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) through innovative payment solutions. FF News
• Cryptocurrency is evolving from a speculative asset to a financial structure, with African crypto pioneers like Yellow Card leading efforts to redefine financial inclusion on the continent. Forbes
• IGAD ’s focus on women’s economic empowerment as a cornerstone for the region’s broader prosperity. IGAD
• A new financial industry barometer highlights key trends in Africa's financial sector, including digitalization and financial inclusion efforts. Challenge.
• The AFD - Agence Fran?aise de Développement (AFD) announces new commitments to expand energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa and improve healthcare services in East Africa. AFD.

LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

• Mexico - The Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público highlights gender equality and financial inclusion as urgent priorities for economic growth. El Economista.
• Colombia - Rural women in Colombia face significant financial inclusion barriers, including limited access to credit and digital financial tools. Latin Pyme. Technology plays a crucial role in improving financial inclusion by providing digital banking solutions to underserved populations. El Espectador. Colombia continues to face challenges in advancing financial inclusion, including regulatory gaps and digital infrastructure limitations. Bloomberg Línea.
• Bolivia - Financial inclusion efforts must consider local economic structures, cultural factors, and digital access to be effective. Ahora El Pueblo.
• Chile - Chile’s Fintech Law presents new opportunities for expanding financial inclusion through innovation and regulatory support. UCSC.

Regional

• 萬事達卡 emphasizes digital payments as a key driver of financial inclusion across Latin America. El Economista.

ASIA

• India – The Economic Survey highlights the success of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in promoting financial inclusion and literacy, noting a significant increase in digital payments and banking access across the country. The Economic Times. The Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) and Account Aggregators are transforming credit access by enabling borrowers to leverage their financial data, promoting democratized credit opportunities. CXO today. Government initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana have significantly advanced financial inclusion, with over 54.58 crore accounts opened and deposits reaching ?2.46 lakh crore by January 2025. Ministry of Finance. The Union Budget 2025 introduces measures designed to boost financial inclusion and support insurance sector growth, with an emphasis on accessibility. Economic Times. Yuze expands into India to support small businesses and freelancers with digital financial tools, enhancing financial accessibility and efficiency. FF News. Protean eGov Technologies aims to drive financial and social inclusion across rural India by expanding digital identity and financial services. Exchange4Media.

Regional

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) highlights the role of public finance, credit guarantees, and financial innovation in enhancing SME access to finance across the Asia-Pacific region . ADB.

REST OF THE WORLD

• Ukraine - The National Bank of Ukraine and EBRD present recommendations for financial institutions to enhance financial inclusion and reintegration support for war veterans. NBU.
• Spain – Santander has been recognized as the highest-ranked European bank in Fortune's 2025 World's Most Admired Companies list, reflecting its strong corporate reputation. Santander
• US – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 's renewed commitment to financial inclusion, particularly focusing on advancing opportunities for women in the financial sector. Tribune Online. Native communities are benefiting from financial inclusion efforts, empowering them with tools to improve economic conditions and access to capital. Forbes. New York expands a program to improve financial services access for underserved communities, focusing on digital banking and financial literacy. PYMNTS.
• New Zealand – Financial inclusion must go beyond simply opening bank accounts, ensuring marginalized communities are reached through diverse solutions. Scoop
• Scotland – Edinburgh Futures Institute is pushing for greater financial inclusion with its "Fintech for Good" initiative, aiming to use fintech to enhance access to financial services for underserved communities. The Fintech Times
• UK – Efforts are underway to bridge the gap in payment accessibility, emphasizing the importance of digital inclusion in providing equitable access to financial services like digital wallets and online banking. Deeside. Camilla C Talam serves as the Macroeconomics Research and Policy Officer at the Oxford Martin School , 英国牛津大学 , focusing on macro-financial and climate policy issues. Oxford Martin School. The call to abandon rigid diversity rules that primarily create HR roles, urging a more impactful approach to workplace inclusion. The Telegraph. Andrew Brown from British International Investment discusses the importance of directing capital to areas where it is most needed, addressing infrastructure and growth opportunities. Infrastructure Investor. Coventry is now classified as one of England's 'poorest' cities, according to a recent study highlighting socioeconomic disparities. The Boar. The Financial Conduct Authority emphasizes the role of organizational culture in shaping responsible financial behavior, impacting trust and inclusion in the financial sector. FCA. Croydon Council launches initiatives to address financial challenges and protect public services, prioritizing support for vulnerable communities. Croydon News. The UK commits up to €120 million in additional funding for the Mobilist program to drive private investment in sustainable development. Impact Investor. The UK government launches an inquiry into the use of AI in banking and financial services to assess risks and opportunities. FinTech Futures.

GLOBAL

• Mphasis predicts that open banking will transform financial trust by prioritizing security and transparency, leading to more personalized and inclusive financial services worldwide. Fintech Magazine
• Money Service Businesses are evolving to provide essential financial services such as fund transfers and currency exchange, playing a crucial role in global commerce and financial inclusion, especially in underserved regions. Finextra
• A recent report projects the Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) market to reach US$74.8 billion by 2030, driven by the rising demand for embedded financial services and increased fintech collaborations. GlobeNewswire
• Grayscale Investments has launched a Dogecoin-focused fund, aiming to provide investors with exposure to the cryptocurrency as altcoin adoption gains momentum. Reuters
• iDenfy has joined Circle 's Alliance Program to strengthen global financial security, offering solutions to help businesses protect against money laundering and fraud. FF News
• Real-time payments are transforming global economies by enhancing efficiency and enabling faster financial transactions across borders, helping drive economic growth. PaymentsJournal
• The Finovate podcast explores key trends in conversational banking, financial inclusion, and cryptocurrency, offering insights into the evolving landscape of finance. Finovate
• Writing effective proposals for financial inclusion projects requires understanding key components such as clear objectives, budget transparency, and expected outcomes. Funds for NGOs
• The future of banking is being shaped by AI with a focus on human-centric design, which is pivotal for enhancing financial inclusion and customer experience. FinTech Futures
• Investment in small financial institutions is helping empower marginalized groups globally, driving positive change through targeted financial inclusion efforts. UNPRI
• Neo-banks are revolutionizing digital banking by offering innovative, accessible financial services, tailored to meet the needs of the modern consumer. Finextra
• The AI Symposium report outlines the implications of AI in financial regulation, with a focus on balancing innovation with ethical standards. FinRegLab
• The G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) action plan outlines strategies to enhance MSME financing through digital innovation, regulatory reforms, and cross-sector collaboration. IFC.
• authID partners with Salus to improve financial inclusion through secure biometric authentication, enhancing digital identity verification. ID Tech Wire.
• The 花旗 Foundation launches its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge, funding nonprofits focused on accelerating youth employability through digital and financial skills. Citi.
• A proposal outlines strategies for improving financial inclusion through mobile banking, emphasizing accessibility, affordability, and digital literacy. Funds for NGOs.
• Fintech Fringe and Project Nemo collaborate to combat financial exclusion by expanding access to banking and credit for underserved communities. The Fintech Times.
• R3 and IDEMIA Secure Transactions partner to enhance CBDC payments, enabling secure online and offline transactions. GlobeNewswire.

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Disclaimer:
The Financial Inclusion Forum compiles news from various sources to provide a comprehensive overview of recent developments in financial inclusion. While we strive for accuracy, the views expressed in these articles are those of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Financial Inclusion Forum or its members. We do not assume responsibility for the content or accuracy of external websites.